MANY people in Harlow have got to know Peter Coates as the face of Wintry Motors in Bush Fair.

The Witham AC runner produced a fantastic time of 2 hours and 28 minutes and 11 seconds in Sunday’s London Marathon.

Last year, Peter ran 2hrs 30 mins and 2 seconds and so he was determined to get under the magic two-and-a-half hours.

And he did. The picture you see below is of Peter at the 23 mile mark. It was taken by his family and they knew and he knew he was heading under 2.30.

Peter comes from a great running dynasty. His father Dennis Coates ran 2.23 for the marathon.

But most of all, Peter is such a modest and thoughtful runner.

Back at Wintry Motors, where Peter has worked for twenty ears, he has been taken aback by the number of people congratulating him for his achievement.